Home Front - Experiences of the First World War in New Zealand

Past Event

26 FEB 2016 - 8 JAN 2017

SAINSBURY HORROCKS GALLERY, FREE WITH MUSEUM ENTRY

Anna Crichton.Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira.

Focusing on life 'at home' during the First World War, the Home Front exhibition will explore how events half a world away shaped lives at home. This is the third in a series of WWI Centenary commemorative exhibitions.

The experience of loss was almost universal for those who remained in New Zealand during WWI. Uncertainty pervaded everything. Would sons, husbands, fathers, brothers live through the ordeal, or come home seriously injured? When would the war end? Could families make ends meet until the breadwinner returned?

Patriotic and fundraising organisations channelled their energies into supporting New Zealand servicemen. But not everyone supported the war effort. While some communities pulled together, others were pulled apart by differences of opinion.

In August 1914, New Zealand readied itself for war. Men were mobilised for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The home front also mobilised - traditional domestic tasks such as knitting and sewing were suddenly seen as essential wartime work.

As the wife of the local doctor, Mrs Alice Mickle knew many of the 'Birkenhead boys' who left for the First World War. She collected their photos and letters in an album, captioning each one with details about the individual’s service.